Gift Received

I love Christmas time because I get to give gifts to those I love and I try to put time into my gifts so there are personal and the recipient knows of my love for them. This is the ultimate goal, yet like everything else in life it doesn't always get done. This year was like many others I put a lot a thought into what I would get each person. The best one I gave this year was to my four year old nephew.  For his birthday he was given the game ‘Minecraft’ and how he loves it! He could do things very successfully and create fun things. This game we played as a family and over Thanksgiving I played with this nephew it was enjoyable. On a regular basis he would ask him how to build something in fact every time he would want to build even the same object that I showed me moments before he would ask again. This is when the idea was planted. He need something visual so he could figure out it for himself. They have recipes online and even in books but they are all directed to older children/adults. I therefore made one with my knowledge of both the game and child development studies I created a small book that had big pictures and words so that he could look up for himself what he wanted to make.  When he opened it and immediately flipped through the pages and declared, “This is how you make a pickaxe” and so on through each page. He was so excited he went around showing each member of the family. He did not put down the book for a long time afterward.

How it soothes the heart to know that your gift has been gratefully received. My nephew gave me the best gift I could have asked for he gave me the gift of gratitude and love. It is such a simple gift yet has such a power. Let us all also share this gift of gratitude genuinely with those around us. I received a gift that I did not ask for but how I needed it! Thank you little man of mine.

Service Fountain

I was sitting at some distance from a drinking fountain at church which became a momentary distraction whenever it was being used and more specifically by children. What started out as a mild distraction turned into a lesson for me. As I watched children bring their toddler brother or sister to the drinking fountain, and then with great effort they would lift a child that was normally at least half their size and probably even weight. Holding their sibling up and pushing the button long enough for a quick drink. This did not just take place once it took place multiple times. I was touched over and over again by the service of the older sibling and the complete confidence and trust of the younger sibling.  I am sure that the younger sibling put up with uncomfortable positions their bodies when into while their older sibling lifted them so they might have a drink.

How many of us would physically lift someone more than half your weight and height? These children gave so willingly of themselves not in any grand gesture just a simple task that was not given any pomp and circumstance.

Wee Editor

Frequently I get to participate in my brother and sister-in-laws family scripture study.  Being part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we study the scriptures found in the Book of Mormon as well as the Bible, this night we were in the Book of Mormon. With this family of three small boys scripture reading is quite an adventure. The main points covered each night during their study are first read 10 verses those old enough to speak participate. The two older boys each ‘read’ or repeat what their mom or dad tells them too, feeding them a couple words at time.  These dictated verses are the shorts out of the allotted ten the family will read that night. When there are others over like myself I get to read a verses or two as well.  So, times it is quite the little battle to have the two older boys repeat the words of their verses and sometimes there is nothing to complain about well the night that became a mommy moment for me was one that took place quite smoothly.  They were reading in the 18th book of Alma. The great teaching of the missionary Ammon, we were coming to the part where the King of the land accepted what he was being taught and being overcome with the spirit of the Lord he went unconscious verse 42 was my 2 year old nephews turn to read. His verse was this, “And now, when he had said this, he fell unto the earth, as if he were dead.” He said the words that were given him, forming them in to the cutest versions of themselves, in a way that only  a two year old can pull off. While doing this we was fingering a toy in his lap. So it did not seem he was giving much thought to what it was he was saying. Until the last word the word was given to him, still focusing on his toy in his lap he stops and does not say the last word, it is given to him again and still he says nothing. Once more it is repeated to him. This time he says “not dead”. Still looking at the toy in his lap. Thinking he misheard the correct word was given him again ‘dead’, and again he said, “not dead”. After this we understood what was going on with the best reasoning given to a child of two he knew being dead was not good and so this King or more likely anyone could not be dead. Thereby he changed it to fit his interpretation of the situation better.

This whole event was super cute and all that were there laughed about it for a bit. In addition I was super impressed with the fact that this seemingly distracted child was indeed listening and trying to understand the best he could the scriptures. To all moms out there that are are trying to study scriptures with their small children or even the big ones, or just trying to teach your children something good, they are picking up and understanding more then they are letting on.

Me & My Brain

Teaching seven different dance classes, helping out in four more, along with taking my own classes, fulfilling another job being an aunt and friend. Like you; I think it is safe to say life gets crazy at the very  least. It is truly a miracle that I am able to keep track of each schedule and know what needs to get done when and for what responsibility.  I can only imagine what it would be like to keep track a whole families schedule. I feel then that this would be applicable in this blog to say that ‘Me & My Brain’ are great friends with the understanding that even in the best of friendships there are disagreements and that things are not always done or taken care of in the best manner.  I have these moments where I simply become at odds with my brain and things are forgotten or brought to pass incorrectly.  Fortunately for me those I work with and surround myself with are forgiving and understanding. If the same is true with you then maybe you will relate to the following story.

In one of  my ballet classes I want to introduce more of the foot positions to further their education. (Now you must understand that I have been in ballet sense about the age of 12 so I have been around this for sometime I have done it over and over, through college, and even recently in adult classes I have taken to keep up with my fitness etc.) I went through the remaining foot positions with my dancers and repeated it many times so they would remember it. We were working in these new position for about four classes, when on my own I just so happen to be going through my ballet book and saw the foot positions and their corresponding names under the images . I just happened to glance at this page and stopped and turned back to it.  The horror struck me all at once as I realize I have infact somehow switched the names of a couple of foot positions and thereby teaching these young dancers all wrong! The embarrassment was strong and I wanted to simply disappear, however grateful at the same time that  I had realized my error before they moved out of my influence and discovered for themselves that they had learned incorrectly.  

I therefore got to teach the following week that adults, teachers and even parents make mistakes.  It was a humbling experience to have to admit to these children what I had done. For there was no other way around it, despite my efforts in finding a way.  The children were amazing and as I have shared in the past very forgiving and I am happy to report all is well and corrected in the ballet foot positions. And well my relationship with Me & My Brain are as they ever were we work together great but now and then a mishap takes place and I get to swallow my pride and move forward.  

Words: Dreaded to Forgotten

Last year while teaching one of my dance classes I had dreaded words delivered to me, those words that strike the heart; no matter how you try to not let them. It had been a hard course correction day, I had to inform the children that they are not making the incorrect choices and thereby consequences would take place. At the end of class we do a ‘good-bye-train’ where each child gets to dance by-themselves to their parents. On this occasion I was trying to help them remain in the line without the pushing and/or pulling of hair etc. With all the parents now in the room ready to pick up their child a little girl yelled, “I hate you!” which then echoed through the room far too long, for my liking.  This was the first time a child had said those words to me and though I was initially prepared for them, you have to be when working with children, the final execution of them still stung vividly. I tried to brush off the words, knowing that she truly don’t mean it the way we as a adults understand the words. She was simply unhappy with what was going on and made it known. However, when the next week came along I was most interested  to know how she would react and what my plan was to help her understand what I am asking of her as well as have a fun and successful experience. I went through many different scenarios in my head and the simpleness of what took place was a surprise. She had forgiven and forgotten all about it and was ready to move on with her dance education.  

Children are so amazing; I was thinking through every strategy I could think of to make the situation better. She had already forgiven me for those things she dislike about her situation. I want to be more forgiving like this child and so many others like her.  

Nurturing Without Sleep

Over the summer I had the opportunity to watch over my three little nephews while their parents were away on an anniversary trip. We were at my parents house so I was not alone in this I was just there so they would not wear out my parents, Grandma and Grandpa. I therefore took upon myself night duty with the little baby. I was to wake up when he did at any hour of the night make a bottle and feed him, and any other need that would take place.

The few day adventure began I had the clean bottle ready for easy access and mentally told myself that I must get up whenever I heard the baby cry I would feel horrible if I slept through it and someone else woke up.  I was prepared as I could be like with almost everything in life there is just no preparing for some events. At first I slept restlessly  for fear of missing the cry but as, he would cry. I would go pick him up and with one arm hold and comfort him with the other make his bottle, being partly asleep many of the times. Night after night I was able to sleep better and awake when he did. I was tempted at times to let someone else take a turn but this is what I wanted and the hard must come with the good so thereby making the good much better. I would get up and repeat. Sometimes nodding off for a heart beat or two while he was eating.  Among the weariness there is a peace when sacrificing for a little baby and watching him eat and he looking back into my eyes, full of love and trust. In the end it was beautiful and worth the effort and sacrifice.

My hat goes off  to all you mothers I did this only for a number of days or should I say nights and I was grateful to pass the baton, while you do this month and even years on  end.